leader

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Any person who leads or directs.

   In an era when political leaders promise deliverance from decline through America’s purported preeminence in scientific research, the news that science is in deep trouble in the United States has been as unwelcome as a diagnosis of leukemia following the loss of health insurance.

2. 2
   noun

   An animal that leads.

   The gesture of licking and nipping a leader's muzzle is similar to the food-begging behavior of wolf pups and may be related to it.

3. 3
   noun

   Someone or something that leads or conducts.

   A strong central leader may result in essentially horizontal branches resembling a "telephone pole."

4. 4
   noun

   a featured article of merchandise sold at a loss in order to draw customers

5. 5
   noun

   a person who rules or guides or inspires others

6. 6
   name

   A surname originating as an occupation for a person who led a horse and cart.

7. 7
   name

   A river in north Canterbury, New Zealand, which joins the (Canterbury) Waiau.

8. 8
   name

   A town in the Rural Municipality of Happyland No. 231, western Saskatchewan, Canada, originally named Prussia.

Etymology

From Middle English leder, ledere, from Old English lǣdere (“leader”), from Proto-West Germanic *laidijārī (“leader”), equivalent to lead + -er. Cognate with Scots ledar, leidar (“leader”), West Frisian lieder (“leader”), Dutch leider (“leader”), German Leiter (“leader, conductor, manager”), Danish leder (“leader, manager”), Swedish ledare (“leader, conductor, director”), Icelandic leiðari (“leader, conductor”).